Rachel Metz - MIT Technology Review http://www.technologyreview.com/stream/25766/?sort=recent
enBroadcast Every Little Dramahttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/536141/broadcast-every-little-drama/
<p>Meerkat and Periscope show how simple, fun, and weird live-streaming can be.</p><p>Like the frequent posture of its cute, furry namesake, a live-streaming video app called <a href="http://meerkatapp.co/" target="0">Meerkat</a> recently got people to stand up and take notice.</p>Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:26:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/536141/broadcast-every-little-drama/Facebook AI Software Learns and Answers Questionshttp://www.technologyreview.com/view/536201/facebook-ai-software-learns-and-answers-questions/
<p>Software able to read a synopsis of Lord of the Rings and answer questions about it could beef up Facebook search.</p><p>Facebook is working on artificial intelligence software that can process text and then answer questions about it. The effort could eventually lead to anything from better search on Facebook itself to more accurate and useful personal assistant software.</p>Thu, 26 Mar 2015 21:53:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/view/536201/facebook-ai-software-learns-and-answers-questions/Facebook Lets Developers Build on Its Chat Apphttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/536166/facebook-lets-developers-build-on-its-chat-app/
<p>Facebook hopes that adding functionality like video sharing and shopping to Messenger will help it grow even as competition rises.</p><p>Facebook is responding to the growing popularity of mobile messaging apps by giving its own messaging app new capabilities. The company will let developers make their apps work within Facebook Messenger, and is also making it possible for shoppers to chat with businesses using the app.</p>Wed, 25 Mar 2015 20:09:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/536166/facebook-lets-developers-build-on-its-chat-app/Microsoft’s Wristband Would Like to Be Your Life Coachhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535956/microsofts-wristband-would-like-to-be-your-life-coach/
<p>Microsoft is working to combine biometric data collected by its new wristband with information from your calendar and contacts to make smarter observations.</p><p>Microsoft’s first foray into wearable activity tracking will go beyond collecting and analyzing exercise and sleep patterns to, say, telling you how stressed out you get before an important meeting and offering breathing exercises to calm you down.</p>Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:15:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535956/microsofts-wristband-would-like-to-be-your-life-coach/Reality Check: Comparing HoloLens and Magic Leaphttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535806/reality-check-comparing-hololens-and-magic-leap/
<p>After trying demos of Magic Leap and HoloLens, it’s clear that commercializing augmented reality technology will be difficult.</p><p>I’ve seen two competing visions for a future in which virtual objects are merged seamlessly with the real world. Both were impressive in part, but they also made me wonder whether augmented reality will become a successful commercial reality anytime soon.</p>Fri, 20 Mar 2015 04:00:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535806/reality-check-comparing-hololens-and-magic-leap/Virtual Reality Advertisements Get in Your Facehttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535556/virtual-reality-advertisements-get-in-your-face/
<p>Some companies see virtual and augmented reality as a way to make money from a new type of ads.</p><p>I’m sitting in a desk chair in an office in Mountain View, California. But with a virtual-reality headset strapped to my head and headphones over my ears, it looks and sounds like I’m standing in the belly of a blimp, flying high above silent city blocks dotted with billboards for a <em>Despicable Me</em> theme-park ride.</p>Wed, 18 Mar 2015 04:00:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535556/virtual-reality-advertisements-get-in-your-face/Goodbye, Internet Explorerhttp://www.technologyreview.com/view/535981/goodbye-internet-explorer/
<p>Microsoft’s legendary browser is getting replaced. It’s about time.</p><p>Microsoft is officially moving away from tired old Internet Explorer, in hopes that fresh code, and a new name, can help it gain back users lost to Google’s Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox.</p>Tue, 17 Mar 2015 21:16:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/view/535981/goodbye-internet-explorer/How’s the Weather There? Crowdsourcing App Promises Better Forecastshttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535761/hows-the-weather-there-crowdsourcing-app-promises-better-forecasts/
<p>An app called Sunshine taps into users’ smartphone sensors to provide localized weather predictions.</p><p>An app called <a href="http://www.thesunshine.co/" target="_blank">Sunshine</a> wants you to help it create more accurate, localized weather forecasts.</p>Tue, 10 Mar 2015 23:09:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535761/hows-the-weather-there-crowdsourcing-app-promises-better-forecasts/Apple's Lovely, Potentially Overwhelming Wristwearhttp://www.technologyreview.com/view/535751/apples-lovely-potentially-overwhelming-wristwear/
<p>My admittedly short time trying the Apple Watch makes me wonder if it might be able to do too much.</p><p>The Apple Watch looks and feels fantastic o<span>n my wrist</span>—unlike most smart watches I’ve tried, it’s not too big or heavy, it has a bright, crisp display, there are just two buttons for navigation, and its touch screen is incredibly responsive. But you know what? It’s also a little overwhelming. </p>Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:11:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/view/535751/apples-lovely-potentially-overwhelming-wristwear/First Groupon Founder, Now Tour Guidehttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535681/first-groupon-founder-now-tour-guide/
<p>With the Detour iPhone app, Groupon founder Andrew Mason wants to make location-aware audio tours where technology seems to fade into the background.</p><p>Andrew Mason, the founder of Groupon who was fired as its CEO two years ago, has moved on, literally and figuratively.</p>Fri, 06 Mar 2015 20:25:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535681/first-groupon-founder-now-tour-guide/An App Inspired by App Overloadhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535546/an-app-inspired-by-app-overload/
<p>An app called Vurb aims to make it easier to search for stuff to do using a smartphone.</p><p>For the past few years, Bobby Lo has been trying to figure out how to use a smartphone to plan a night out with friends, without shuffling back and forth between apps and Web pages just to make dinner reservations or find movie times.</p>Tue, 03 Mar 2015 16:00:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535546/an-app-inspired-by-app-overload/Virtual Creatures in a Box, Controlled by Youhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535456/virtual-creatures-in-a-box-controlled-by-you/
<p>A startup uses an old parlor trick and smartphone sensing to let you control virtual objects in a see-through box.</p><p>A Canadian startup is working to make monsters, fish, and other creatures seem to come alive inside a tabletop box. The company, H+, hopes you’ll use the device to play games and do other activities with friends.</p>Fri, 27 Feb 2015 18:11:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535456/virtual-creatures-in-a-box-controlled-by-you/A Smart-Watch Pioneer Has an Answer for Applehttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535311/a-smart-watch-pioneer-has-an-answer-for-apple/
<p>As the Apple Watch casts a shadow across the smart-watch market, Pebble preps a wrist-worn gadget with a color e-paper display.</p><p>If Eric Migicovsky, founder and CEO of smart-watch maker Pebble, is nervous about Apple’s looming entry into his company’s turf, he isn’t showing it.</p>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:00:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535311/a-smart-watch-pioneer-has-an-answer-for-apple/Gadgets Are Getting Better at Fooling Your Sense of Touchhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535121/gadgets-are-getting-better-at-fooling-your-sense-of-touch/
<p>Touch feedback that’s more nuanced than a simple buzz could make virtual reality more real and cars safer.</p><p>The offices of <a href="http://www.immersion.com/" target="0">Immersion</a> in San Jose, California, may be the touchy-feeliest place I’ve ever been. The walls of one conference room are lined with tablets, smartphones, smart watches, and other gadgets that all have the ability to stimulate your sense of touch.</p>Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:20:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535121/gadgets-are-getting-better-at-fooling-your-sense-of-touch/The Button That Does Whatever You Want It to Dohttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/535241/the-button-that-does-whatever-you-want-it-to-do/
<p>A simple but powerful app offers a “Do” button that can bend Internet services and gadgets to your will.</p><p>Call it the Clapper for the Internet of Things era. Open the new app from startup IFTTT and you’ll find just one, big virtual button. Tapping it will instantly perform a complex action that you have preprogrammed, like setting your Internet-connected thermostat to 70 degrees or blocking off the next 15 minutes on your Google calendar.</p>Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:00:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535241/the-button-that-does-whatever-you-want-it-to-do/Magic Leaphttp://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/534971/magic-leap/
<p>A startup is betting more than half a billion dollars that it will dazzle you with its approach to creating 3-D imagery.<br /><br />Availability: 1-3 years</p>Wed, 18 Feb 2015 05:05:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/534971/magic-leap/A Film Studio for the Age of Virtual Realityhttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/534791/a-film-studio-for-the-age-of-virtual-reality/
<p>A Montreal-based film studio is making movies that you’ll watch with a virtual-reality headset, pointing the way to a whole new form of entertainment.</p><p>Imagine sitting back in a chair, sliding a headset over your eyes and headphones over your ears. Suddenly, you’re sitting on a rock in a sun-dappled clearing, surrounded by tall trees, alone with the noises of the forest. Alone, that is, until you turn your head and spot Reese Witherspoon walking toward you, looking like a haggard camper with a giant pack on her back.</p>Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:00:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/534791/a-film-studio-for-the-age-of-virtual-reality/Can Twitter Fix Its Harassment Problem without Losing Its Soul?http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535031/can-twitter-fix-its-harassment-problem-without-losing-its-soul/
<p>Harassment has become a major issue online. Twitter’s efforts to crack down on problem users might suggest a broader solution.</p><p>At least Twitter admits it has a problem. In an <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/4/7982099/twitter-ceo-sent-memo-taking-personal-responsibility-for-the" target="_blank">internal memo</a> leaked last week, CEO Dick Costolo acknowledged what many people on Twitter already knew: 140 characters at a time, many of the service’s users are routinely harassed, abused, or threatened, and the company isn’t doing much to stop it.</p>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:40:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535031/can-twitter-fix-its-harassment-problem-without-losing-its-soul/Deep Learning Squeezed Onto a Phonehttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/534736/deep-learning-squeezed-onto-a-phone/
<p>Artificial-intelligence software can make phones better at tracking your workouts and emotions.</p><p>Software that roughly mimics the way the brain works could give smartphones new smarts—leading to more accurate and sophisticated apps for tracking everything from workouts to emotions.</p>Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:50:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/534736/deep-learning-squeezed-onto-a-phone/FCC Chief Proposes Broader Net Neutrality Ruleshttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/534781/fcc-chief-proposes-broader-net-neutrality-rules/
<p>Planned regulations would govern the openness of the Internet, no matter if you’re surfing the Web on a laptop or a smartphone.</p><p>The chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler, has outlined a proposal for so-called net neutrality rules that would prohibit Internet service providers from blocking access to websites, throttling Internet service speeds, or offering companies the ability to pay to have their Web traffic prioritized over others (often called a “fast lane”).</p>Wed, 04 Feb 2015 22:20:00 +0000http://www.technologyreview.com/news/534781/fcc-chief-proposes-broader-net-neutrality-rules/